Photo: "Jalapeño peppers from the garden" by Accidental Nomad · CC BY 2.0

Pepper · Hot-medium

Jalapeño Peppers

Open-pollinated · Solanaceae

THE reference hot pepper. Most popular in North America and first pepper in space (NASA, 1982). Thick-walled 2-4 inch fruit, 30-40 per plant. Corking (tan striations) is considered desirable — indicates peak ripeness and potentially higher heat. Green is standard harvest; red-ripe jalapeños are the base for chipotle. Standard OP has no disease resistance; hybrid varieties carry BLS resistance. Open-pollinated.

At a Glance

Days to Maturity

65–75 days

Sun

6+ hours

8+ hours full sun

Spacing

14–18 "

Seed Start

8–10 weeks

before transplant

Container

Yes

3+ gallon pot

Height

2–3 ft

Zone Planting Guide

Your USDA Zone:

Growing Guide

Germination

Germination Time 7–21 days

Optimal Temp 85°F

Seed Depth 0.25"

Transplanting

Min Soil Temp 65°F

Harden Off 10 days

Watering

Weekly Water 1–2 "

Needs Consistent-moderate

Method Drip or base watering

Soil

pH Range 6–6.8

Soil Type Well-draining, fertile, sandy loam ideal

Resilience

Heat: Moderate Cold: Very-low Drought: Medium

Common Problems

bacterial-leaf-spot

Cause: Xanthomonas spp. Most damaging pepper disease in humid zones.

Prevention: Hybrid varieties with BLS resistance. Copper spray (preventive). Drip irrigation. 4-year rotation.

blossom-drop

Cause: Day >90°F, night >75°F, or night <60°F. Pollen non-viable above 95°F.

Prevention: Shade cloth 30-40% in hot zones. Cover on cool nights. Temporary — resumes when temps normalize.

blossom-end-rot

Cause: Inconsistent watering + calcium deficiency. More common in thick-walled jalapeños than thin-walled types.

Prevention: Consistent watering, Cal-Mag.

corking

Cause: Tan striations on skin. NOT a problem — indicates peak ripeness. Considered desirable in Mexico.

Prevention: None needed. This is a quality indicator, not damage.

Nutrition

Feeding Intensity Moderate feeder

Calcium Critical — supplement recommended

Recommended Recipes Root drench, Worm castings topdress

Harvest

Green: dark green, 2-4 inches, firm, glossy. Some corking = peak ripeness. Red: uniform deep red, slightly softer, sweeter, hotter.

Expected Yield 2–4 lbs/plant

Storage 14 days — Unwashed in perforated plastic bag, crisper drawer. Green: 1-3 weeks. Red: 1 week.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Genovese basil Repels aphids

Nantes carrot Different root depth

French marigold Repels aphids and nematodes

Avoid Planting Near

Herb fennel Inhibits most garden plants

Sources

seed_catalog Territorial Seed seed_catalog Johnny's Selected Seeds university Colorado State Extension reference Old Farmer's Almanac reference NMSU Chile Pepper Institute

More Peppers

Jalapeño Peppers Planting Dates by Zone

Planting dates for Jalapeño Peppers vary by USDA hardiness zone. Select your zone below for frost dates, start-indoors timing, and a full monthly planting calendar.

Zone 5A Zone 5B Zone 6A Zone 6B Zone 7A Zone 7B Zone 8A Zone 8B Zone 9A Zone 9B

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